RIP For Z3100 24"

[Harris]

I am interested in getting a RIP for my Z3100 (24") and would like to know what RIPs are available for it and experience others have had with RIPs.

Thanks

Harris

[Scott Martin]

What is it that your are trying to do? What are your reasons for seeking a RIP?

[Harris]

For a better workflow.  I would like to be set up multiple images for printing on a sheet of paper or with roll paper - wasting too much time and paper when have multiple and assorted sizes to print out.  

Any recomendations will be appreciated.

Harris

[thierryd]

For a better workflow.  I would like to be set up multiple images for printing on a sheet of paper or with roll paper -
Harris
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

[a href=\"http://www.ddisoftware.com/qimage/]Qimage[/url] is not really a RIP but does exactly what your are looking for (and even more   )

[rdonson]

For a better workflow.  I would like to be set up multiple images for printing on a sheet of paper or with roll paper - wasting too much time and paper when have multiple and assorted sizes to print out. 

Any recomendations will be appreciated.

Harris
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=125834\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Some RIPs will cost as much as the printer, some slightly less.  For what you've stated I agree with the recommendation to check out Qimage.

[Mussi_Spectraflow]

RIPs can be a big help for workflow, some can offer improved quality, although the common perception among some is that a RIP will automatically yield better quality. Here are a few to consider.

ImagePrint 7= There latest word is that there will be support for the Z in about a month. This is a good rip for small volume printing of photographic output. They supply a library of very good premade profiles.

Onyx 7 Postershop = Steeper learning curve. Has the added advantage/challenge of bypassing the HP separation tables so your profiles wont be affected by every new firmware update. Of course that means ink limiting 12 channels and building n-color profiles...not for the faint of heart.

You can also look at Wasatch, and Oris.

Julian Mussi
www.spectraflow.com

[Harry Carpenter]

I print using qimage, but I would only recommend it because it is cheap. I hate having to set up a new page size for every print I make, it is almost easier to print directly from photoshop.
Posterjet seems to offer a decent RIP for about £400 but some of the others are just asking ludicrous prices for providing the ability to print on roll paper, which is all I would need it for.

[Harris]

Thanks for your thoughts.  It seems as if QImage is the way for me to go - both preformance and cost wise.  Anyone else with a Z3100 using it at this time?  I'll report on how I make out with it.  Harris

[rdonson]

I use Qimage Studio.  I'm quite pleased with it.

[thierryd]

I use Qimage Studio.  I'm quite pleased with it.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=125988\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I, too. I make all my editing with Photoshop, but I use Qimage Studio for 95% of my printing. I used it with an Epson 4000 first, and now with the HP Z3100. Always happy with the workflow and the print quality.

[ricgal]

Onyx 7 Postershop = Steeper learning curve. Has the added advantage/challenge of bypassing the HP separation tables so your profiles wont be affected by every new firmware update. Of course that means ink limiting 12 channels and building n-color profiles...not for the faint of heart.

You can also look at Wasatch, and Oris.

Julian Mussi
www.spectraflow.com
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=125940\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hi Julian
could you explain what an n colour profile is please?  Is their a resource site where such knowldge can be assimilated
cheers
Ric

[neil snape]

I, too. I make all my editing with Photoshop, but I use Qimage Studio for 95% of my printing. I used it with an Epson 4000 first, and now with the HP Z3100. Always happy with the workflow and the print quality.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=126019\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Qimage is a non elegant way to sue a visual placement of imaging largely assuring good plots without trial and error. It isn't a rip, but the features it adds to the up front end of the driver are an incredible value. If it weren't for the fact I have to transfer my images from Mac to PC I would too use it all the time. Yet I do have ImagePrint which can do everything and then some, it looks promising. Whereas Qimage uses the driver for the actual screening, ImagePrint uses it's own separations, screening, and tuning of the image data. I will be testing GMG soon which albeit is a proofing rip, does hold a promise of maximising the Z's N channel capability.

[Ernst Dinkla]

You can also look at Wasatch, and Oris.

Julian Mussi
www.spectraflow.com
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I upgraded to the Wasatch SoftRip 6.1 - 16 bits + Z3100 driver. The calibration shows all the channels but the 2 grey inks. It should work with N-channel profiles and with the Advanced Separations one could make it into an RGB device for CM using all the hues.
The partitioning of MK, PK and the two greys however remains a black box so one doesn't know whether the quad configuration is ever selected for any of the matte papers. In fact right now I do not know whether any grey ink is used. So far the added media configurations (3 only) do not promise much. There's no sign at all that the grey inks are used to replace the composite greys, while the RGB inks kick in at the neutral axis already, so a plain hue angle substitution is selected. At least the Premium ID Satin shows that character. Making prints prone to metamerism, high ink use and color shifts. If WasatchInc isn't able to make a media configuration that actually uses the advanced inkset of the Z3100 sensibly one wonders what its 16 bit is good for.

In the past I have asked WasatchInc for some extra B&W features to the RIP. It took a long time and more requests before I actually got an answer and it was a NO.  At that time not a wise decision in my opinion and that hasn't changed with the new wide format printers available. There are ways to configure the RIP that it will resemble the Advanced B&W mode of the Z3100 driver but not as easy in use.

As before with Epsons  I probably will use Qimage + the Z3100 driver for 90% of the jobs.


Ernst Dinkla

try: [a href=\"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wide_Inkjet_Printers/[/url]

[rdonson]

Qimage is a non elegant way to sue a visual placement of imaging largely assuring good plots without trial and error. It isn't a rip, but the features it adds to the up front end of the driver are an incredible value. If it weren't for the fact I have to transfer my images from Mac to PC I would too use it all the time. Yet I do have ImagePrint which can do everything and then some, it looks promising. Whereas Qimage uses the driver for the actual screening, ImagePrint uses it's own separations, screening, and tuning of the image data. I will be testing GMG soon which albeit is a proofing rip, does hold a promise of maximising the Z's N channel capability.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=126346\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

ImagePrint V7, when it supports the HP z3100, will be worth investigating.  It's price for the 24" is within reason.  I'll wait for the reviews though.  I'm interested to see if/how they use the built-in spectro and how they handle B&W.  If they don't use the quad blacks on any media I'll be disappointed.  I was intrigued though that they now will deal with ICC profiles.  I'm not sure what that means with regards to their proprietary profiles.

I'm also curious if Ergosoft has the Z3100 in their plans.

[neil snape]

ImagePrint V7, when it supports the HP z3100, will be worth investigating.  It's price for the 24" is within reason.  I'll wait for the reviews though.  I'm interested to see if/how they use the built-in spectro and how they handle B&W.  If they don't use the quad blacks on any media I'll be disappointed.  I was intrigued though that they now will deal with ICC profiles.  I'm not sure what that means with regards to their proprietary profiles.

I'm also curious if Ergosoft has the Z3100 in their plans.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=126429\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

IP7 has a very nice calibration chart that of course uses the spectro. I don't see much in way of options for GE though. If say glossy paper is used two profiles sets are available, where you select the appropriate one.
With the testing I have done, and HP's there are only gains on a very limited number of media by using quad blacks. When you have quad blacks matte paper will reach it's D max with the Mk quickly. Adding other blacks doesn't do much in this regard. Transitions can be slightly improved in both tonal steps and visual granularity. But, the down falls are the photo blacks tend to spread into absorbant media hence a mushy appearance is going to overcome the benfit of more grey steps.
I do agree that this option should be in the driver, and despite the testing one has to do, could be an option that some users may have use for. Things like long tonal scale images say Robert Mapplethorpe type.

[rdonson]

IP7 has a very nice calibration chart that of course uses the spectro.

With the testing I have done, and HP's there are only gains on a very limited number of media by using quad blacks. When you have quad blacks matte paper will reach it's D max with the Mk quickly. Adding other blacks doesn't do much in this regard. Transitions can be slightly improved in both tonal steps and visual granularity. But, the down falls are the photo blacks tend to spread into absorbant media hence a mushy appearance is going to overcome the benfit of more grey steps.

[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=126462\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

If IP7 has a calibration chart is that used to create profiles?  If not I guess that means we're still downloading proprietary profiles from their website.  Perhaps not bad but just want to know.

Quad blacks have seemed to work for me but I haven't done extensive testing and the images I've used don't have long tonal areas.   It just seems to punch up the black lines in my images.  Perhaps the Quad black is more marketing fodder than anything else.  After all HP has to compete with K3.    

I guess the interesting thing will be to see how people vote with their money.  If IP7 finds a loyal following with Z3100 owners that will be telling.  In the meantime I've ordered HP's APS to see what that will do for me.  I probably should have saved my money for when IP7 fully supports the Z3100 but what the heck.

[larnyj]

As a side question, does anyone know if HP will release the Photosmart Pro print
for the Z3100?

[rdonson]

As a side question, does anyone know if HP will release the Photosmart Pro print
for the Z3100?
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=126602\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Its already available on the Mac.  No idea when its going to be available for Windows.

[Charles Gast]

Image Print 7 if ever available is supposed to ave high quality profiles and it uses a better target for linearization. As far as when it will be released it was supposed to have been released in a couple of months .....ONE YEAR AGO.....
Don't be holding your breath!

[Scott Martin]

Image Print 7 ... As far as when it will be released it was supposed to have been released in a couple of months .....ONE YEAR AGO.....
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=127169\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hmmm, deja vu all over again...